Best Paying Programming Languages to Acquire

As a freelance developer it is a good idea to keep track of the changing landscape. Acquiring new skills is vital as technology changes over time. For example learning a new language can broading your skills resulting in new job oportunities and possibly a higher paycheck. However, since there are so many to choose from it is good to narrow down your scope. As a freelancer earning a good rate should be one of your biggest priorities, therefore we have looked into all the current programming languages available and think that these are the five best paying ones: Kotlin, Golang, Ruby, Java, and Python. Of cours, the hourly rate for each language can vary based on location, experience level, and project complexity.

In this post, we will discuss the following:

• The top 5 highest paying programming languages for freelance developers
• For each their origin, benefits, and features
• The reasons why these languages are in demand
• The average hourly rate for each language

1 – Kotlin

Kotlin is a statically-typed programming language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and is widely used for Android app development. It was developed by JetBrains, the same company that created IntelliJ IDEA, a popular Java IDE.

This programming language is designed to be more concise, expressive, and safe than Java, with features such as null safety, type inference, and lambdas.

It has gained popularity among Android developers because it can reduce the amount of boilerplate code needed to create an app, making the development process faster and more efficient. It also has seamless interoperability with Java, which means that developers can use Kotlin and Java code in the same project.

As more companies adopt Kotlin for Android development, the demand for skilled Kotlin developers is expected to increase.

A popular example of Kotlin’s application is Trello, a web-based project management tool that allows users to organize and manage their tasks using a visual interface. Trello’s backend is built using Kotlin and Spring Boot, a popular framework for building web applications in Java and Kotlin.

The average hourly rate for Kotlin freelancers ranges from $50 to $150 per hour.

2 – Golang

Golang, also known as Go, is an open-source programming language developed by Google. It was designed to simplify the development of efficient, reliable, and scalable software systems.

Golang is well-suited for building cloud-based applications, microservices, and networking tools. It has a simple syntax, built-in concurrency support, and a garbage collector that helps manage memory usage. It also has a robust standard library that includes packages for network programming, cryptography, and testing.

Golang is particularly popular among startups and tech companies that need to build large-scale, distributed systems.

For example, Docker, a popular containerization platform, is written in Golang. Golang’s concurrency features make it an ideal choice for building microservices and containerized applications that need to handle a high volume of requests.

The average hourly rate for Golang freelancers ranges from $50 to $200 per hour.

3 – Ruby

Ruby is a dynamic, object-oriented programming language that is known for its simplicity and productivity. It was created by Yukihiro Matsumoto in the mid-1990s and has since become a popular language for building web applications, automation scripts, and data analysis tools.

Ruby’s syntax is concise and easy to read, making it an ideal choice for developers who value code readability and maintainability. It also has a vast ecosystem of open-source libraries, such as Rails, Sinatra, and RSpec, that make it easy to build complex applications quickly.

Ruby is particularly popular among startups and web development agencies that need to build scalable, flexible, and maintainable web applications.

For example, Airbnb, a popular vacation rental platform, is built on top of Ruby on Rails. Rails is a web framework for Ruby that makes it easy to build web applications quickly by providing a set of conventions and best practices.

The average hourly rate for Ruby freelancers ranges from $50 to $150 per hour.

4 – Java

Java is a high-level, class-based, and object-oriented programming language that is widely used for building enterprise-level software systems. It was created by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems in the mid-1990s and has since become one of the most popular programming languages in the world.

Java’s syntax is verbose and strongly typed, making it an ideal choice for building large, complex software systems that require high performance and reliability. It also has a vast ecosystem of open-source libraries, such as Spring, Hibernate, and Apache Kafka. These libraries make it easy to build scalable, distributed, and secure software systems.

Java is particularly popular among large enterprises and financial institutions that need to build mission-critical software systems that handle a high volume of transactions.

For example, the Hadoop ecosystem, which is used for big data processing, is built on top of Java. Java’s strong performance and reliability make it an ideal choice for building distributed software systems that need to handle a high volume of data.

The average hourly rate for Java freelancers ranges from $50 to $200 per hour.

5 – Python

Python is a popular, high-level programming language that is known for its simplicity, readability, and flexibility. It was created by Guido van Rossum in the late 1980s and has since become one of the most widely used programming languages in the world.

Python’s syntax is concise and easy to read, making it an ideal choice for developers who value code readability and maintainability. It also has a vast ecosystem of open-source libraries, such as NumPy, Pandas, and Scikit-Learn. With Python, you can easily build complex data analysis, machine learning, and scientific computing applications.

Data scientists, machine learning engineers, and web developers use Python to build scalable, efficient, and maintainable software systems. For example, Dropbox, a popular cloud storage and file-sharing platform, is built on top of Python. Python’s flexibility and ease of use make it an ideal choice for building complex software systems that require a high degree of automation and scalability.

The average hourly rate for Python freelancers ranges from $40 to $150 per hour.

What should you consider when acquiring new programming skills?

Acquiring new programming skills can be an exciting and rewarding process, but it also requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some key factors to consider when acquiring new programming skills:

Purpose and goals: Are you trying to improve your existing programming skills or learn something new for a career change? Do you want to specialize in a specific technology or programming language? 

Knowing your purpose and goals will help you focus your efforts and choose the right learning resources.

Learning resources: There are many resources available for learning programming, including online courses, books, blogs, and video tutorials. When selecting learning resources, consider factors such as the credibility of the source, the quality of the content, and the relevance of the material to your goals.

Time commitment: Learning a new programming skill requires a significant time commitment, so it’s important to factor this into your schedule. Consider how much time you can realistically devote to learning each week, and plan accordingly.

Practice and application: Learning programming skills requires practice and application to build proficiency. Consider how you will practice and apply your new skills, such as through personal projects, coding challenges, or contributions to open-source projects.

Community and support: Join a community of learners and seek support from mentors and peers when acquiring new programming skills. There is a lot of learning there.

All that said, proficiency in a programming language alone is not enough to succeed as a freelance programmer.

Developing other skills, such as communication, project management, and problem-solving, is also essential for building a successful freelance career. Good luck!